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in honor of PP's birthday... awful fic time
Because nothing says "I love you" (or similar) like really bad fic written 16 years ago.
(actually, I think I've posted part one before, but whatever)
In honor of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
prozacpark's birthday and in spirit-filled delusion....
Part one of the crossover 'The Slayer, the Cat and Some Wisdom' (which is still sometimes an excellent title). The one where season two of Buffy had just ended and Excalibur #20 had just happened, and I had discovered crossovers and fanfic. I was also a Kitty Pryde/Pete Wisdom and Buffy/Angel shipper.
All errors, painfully ooc behavior and bad writing are my own.
The Slayer, the Cat, and Some Wisdom
Chapter One: Out All Night With No One To Hit
July 28th, 8:30 p.m. San Francisco, CA.
Kitty Pryde wandered the streets of San Francisco. She thought she might be lost. The sun was setting in a blaze of glory off to her left, and she didn't care. Her mind was teaming with thought, So I take a vacation. The first one I've had since I joined the X-Men at age 13. And what happens? I get a call from bloody Alistair Stuart, asking me to look for someone. And instead of being able to leave this town, I now have to spend who knows how many days trying to find someone who might not even be here.
She kicked a bottle out of her way, and looked around in mild surprise. Definitely not the best part of town, she observed, noting the rundown buildings, garbage littering the street and decayed atmosphere. She glanced up, the sun had set, golden-red streaks lighting the bluey-purple velvet of the sky, while underneath little stars twinkled.
The stars slowly got brighter as she continued on. In the distance, the moon began to rise. Alistair was going to pay--or, rather, the British government would. She half-smiled at that. She, Kitty Pryde, agent for the British Crown. It had a scary ring to it.
Unbidden came the thought that Pete would have been amused, and she growled. There was to be no thinking about *that* particular--man, not gentleman--thank you very much. Trash littered the sidewalks, bits of old newspapers, straw papers, even a few ancient french fries dancing along under the control of the intermittant breezes. She ignored it all, mind focussed on thinking absolutely nothing about Pete while trying to watch for a young woman.
Time passed, creeping along like the shadows of the snail Kitty stepped over at one point. Moonlight from the full moon poured down on her, then was obscured by the clouds rolling slowly over the moon. The wind had picked up as she wandered, swirling around her legs, battering tiny bits of paper intermittantly. The moonlight felt wonderful. A sudden sound to her right made her pause.
Silently, they streamed from the shadows, surrounding her, teeth gleamed brilliantly as they all smiled ferally. Reacting automatically, her mind noted there were four and then she was turning, lashing out to hit one in the jaw. They seemed startled for an instant, and then another swung at her. She ducked, and came up fighting. The moon slipped behind the clouds.
Feeling something akin to joy in the workout, she whirled and ducked. Lashed out with precision, then laughed softly. A roundhouse kick should have decapitated one, an elbow slammed into her back, and she dropped, rolling out of the way of his pounce. Coming to her feet, she smirked as they realised she'd escaped their ring. Dimly, she was aware that something was odd about her attackers--they seemed to take her punches and kicks without any discernable pain. But she didn't care. They'd picked a fight with an innocent young woman. Just because she wasn't quite so innocent meant nothing--they still deserved to have their asses handed to them on a platter.
She spun, kicking out and re-arranging the face of one. Another grabbed her arm, she let her momentum carry her body into his, slamming a knee into his groin. He went down, yelping. Another was grappling with her as the moon came out from behind the clouds and she saw the faces of her attackers for the first time. Vampires. It figured, really.
Her head jerked back as her attacker latched onto it. A growl escaped her throat, low and angry, she shifted, grabbed the vampire's arm, dropped her knees, lifted and he was up and over. He slammed into the pavement in front of her, a sound indicating that his neck had cracked. All tension left the arm around her throat.
She straightened slightly, feeling exhilerated. So far, she hadn't had to use her mutant power once. It was liberating, in a way. The next one, a female, started to come at her. Kitty snapped her head back as something flashed across her vision, slamming into the chest of the vampire. She snarled and disappeared in a puff of dust.
Kitty slowly turned to face the young woman who stood there, another stake in her hand, poised for the next vampire. "They're vampires. Use this, get 'em in the heart." She tossed a stake at Kitty, and turned to fight the one attempting to jump her. Kitty shrugged and then whirled, stake in hand and took out the vampire behind her in mid-grab. He dissolved into dust as the fourth one jumped up, bleated in terror and took off into the night.
"Shall we chase him d'you think?" Kitty asked conversationally, dusting herself off, as the vampire skidded round the corner and disappeared from sight. She eyed the other woman, considering. This had to be the Slayer. She decided absently. Adrenaline was bubbling through her, making her want to fidget.
The other girl didn't answer as she kicked her opponent in the chest, following through by slamming her stake into its heart. "WE?" She dusted her hands off, "This is my job. I suggest you go back to your home, and stay out of this. It's rather dangerous."
A bitter chuckle escaped Kitty and she shrugged, "I'm on vacation."
"Hotel then?"
Kitty studied her for a moment. In the moonlight her shoulder length blonde hair was nearly silver. She was thin, but lithe, like a fighter. Black shorts, tshirt and boots made her seem younger than she was. And her eyes. With her youth, they should have been light, silver. Instead they were shadowed by pain, sadness, grief, and something else, something Kitty thought she recognised. It made them dark. She looked very young, but Kitty'd seen her in action. She was good, very good. Besides, as Kitty well knew, age was NOT a judge for experience. And Alistair *had* asked.... And paid.
"Maybe. Look, I'd like an explanation of this." She grinned, "I don't suppose I could keep this?" She held up the stake.
The other was shaking her head, "I'm sorry, but the less you know, the safer you'll be. C'mon, I'll walk you to wherever you're going," she waved her hand, "keep the stake."
"Can we at least exchange names? I mean, I keep thinking of you as 'the girl'."
"I'd rather not." she said shaking her head.
"I'll be very tenacious 'till you tell me your name." Kitty said, "I'll dog your footsteps, follow you everywhere--."
"Oooo. K." She looked as if she wondered a bit about Kitty's sanity. "I'm Buffy."
"What, no last name?"
She sighed, "Summers. Buffy Summers."
Summers? Kitty's mind immediately came up with several jokes and discarded them all. Especially the one about cloned mothers and bratty sisters. Best to be nice. "Summers? Your dad wouldn't be named Scott, would he?"
Buffy looked at her, "Uhm. No. My dad's name is Hank."
"Ok. I'm Kitty Pryde." Kitty held out her hand. Scott was a better name. They shook.
"So tell me Buffy, vampire slaying's a normal thing for kids these days? Y'know, see a movie, hit the Dennys, then go slay a few vampires?"
"Oh no. I just do this occasionally, when the mood strikes me." Buffy replied dryly, an amused twist to her lips
Kitty laughed, she didn't know why--it hadn't even been that funny. But it felt good. Alistair would probably have mocked her.
-- Buffy smiled unexpectedly as Kitty laughed. The laughter was almost infectious, yet had an odd edge to it. "Where am I taking you?"
"Downtown?" Kitty replied, her tone almost one of suggestion.
"Downtown!? Wait. You do know that you are, like, 6 miles out of downtown. How long did you say you'd been walking?" Incredulously, she stared at the other girl. Buffy felt irritated at this unreasonable demand. Here she'd been happily wallowing in her own misery, resolutely avoiding her 'destiny' as the Slayer; and this nobody walked into the hands of vampires and she had to save her. It was enough to make her sit down and throw a fit. If, that was, she did that sort of thing. Which she hadn't. Not since she was about four. She stopped thinking about that and took a good look at Kitty. She didn't look much older than she herself was, they were of a height, though Kitty was slightly taller. She was wearing jeans and a dark tshirt that had 'Cat's Laughing' printed on it in silver. Brown hair brushed her shoulders, graying in the moonlight. Dark eyes, maybe brown, mirrored emotions Buffy herself felt--sadness, and pain. Her voice held a slight accent, unrecognisable, but there. She glanced down at her watch, Hrmm... This late at night BART'll still be running, I can take her to a station, drop her off there. Buffy had been living in San Francisco for three months. She'd been riding BART, the local public transport, for nearly that long.
Kitty shrugged. "I just sort of started walking," She checked her watch, "Er, several hours ago?"
Deciding, she opened her mouth to offer the BART idea. Something twinged against her spine, shivers skittering up it for a second, and she turned, looking for something to jump out of the shadows at them. It didn't. She sighed again, "Fine. Look, I'll walk you to the BART station, you can take it downtown and get off near the hotels. Why the hell were you out walking this late, anyway?"
Kitty looked at her for a moment. "You're not my mother. Besides, I can take care of myself."
She's right. She *was* holding her own there. Buffy thought, almost ruefully. "Sorry. I keep forgetting that there are a few who *can* take care of themselves against vampires. It's not like everyone faces demons daily."
"Right. Look, walk me to the station, and I'll let it go." Kitty nodded to Buffy, "Shall we?"
Buffy started to nod, when--"What the hell?" The feeling flashed up her spine again. She turned to the end of the street, senses straining. Somewhere, she'd heard--there it was again. "Damn. That vampire that got away? It's up there attacking someone." She looked at Kitty and sighed. "Duty calls." Buffy took off running, glancing back she noted Kitty matching her step for step.
"I heard the screams, too." Kitty snapped, "And I *am* the one who let him go."
Buffy didn't argue, just nodded.
They rounded the corner in step and the screaming abruptly cut off. "There!" They spotted them at the same time.
"Bloody hell!" The accent Buffy had noticed earlier was a little more pronounced. Three vampires surounded the body of a girl--she couldn't have been more than ten. Her eyes stared sightlessly at the stars that shone above.
"I'll take the bastard on the left." Kitty muttered.
"I get the rest, then?" Buffy guessed as Kitty was already moving, going after the vampire she'd indicated. It was their playmate from earlier. Buffy watched as Kitty used her own momentum to slide up to and *through* the vampire. She left the stake behind in his chest. Neat. Gotta ask her how she does that. He disappeared in a puff of dust.
"Slayer." One of the remaining vampires hissed.
She pulled the stake out again. "Slayee."
"You have been expected," she hissed.
"Really? But I didn't RSVP!" Buffy laughed, "I guess you dust piles are mind-readers now, huh?"
The vampire growled and lunged at her as Kitty engaged her companion. Buffy dodged, kicking out at her left leg. It crumpled and the vampire went down howling in pain. "So sorry." Buffy dropped down on top of her, the stake finding her heart.
"Melea! You killed Melea, you bitch!" The 'dead' girl jumped up and threw herself on Buffy. She rolled to the left barely avoiding her, the wind of her passing touched her. Power surged along her bones, old power, power that sucked the marrow out of life. Buffy shook her head, dispelling the feeling, and hopped to her feet.
She shivered waiting for the vampire girl to charge again. What the hell was that? The vampire was turning, she spotted Buffy and charged her again. Buffy met her halfway, sliding in and punching her. Again power surged along her bones, almost knocking her to the ground. I've never felt anything like this, she thought as she fought against it. She slammed her hand on the vampire-girl's chest, grabbing the ruffles of the fluffy Victorian shirt, desperately holding herself up. Her legs buckled and she began falling... stake. Need a stake. Time was moving slowly as she followed her left hand with her right and the stake. It plunged into the vampire's chest as Buffy's bones sang.
"Auuuuughiiiiieeeeee!" The vampire's head went back as she shrilled to the heavens and shattered into a pile of dust.
Time returned to normal and Buffy felt her knees finish disappearing as energy poured over her bones. It's cold, so cold-- Everything went grey and then to black.
With a final kick and flourish, Kitty staked her opponent and turned to check on Buffy. "What the--" she jumped towards her as she fell.
Kitty stared down at the unconscious girl. Good grief. I turn from zapping that vampire and she's fainting on me. Hmm. She glanced around, Where'd that body go? Oh, wait. She replayed the scene on her peripheral vision. They were...lying in wait for us? She frowned, Well, Buffy, actually, they knew her. One of them called her something, too. Slither? Sleer? No. Slayer. She called Buffy 'Slayer'. What the heck is a Slayer? Guess I'll find out when she wakes up. She glanced around. Damn, we're too exposed here. She looked around trying to find a place to hide. I don't think hiding in plain sight will work on a deserted street.
Quickly, she half-dragged, half-carried Buffy back around the corner, and towards the dark alcove across the street. It was a door recess, almost a porch. Grunting softly, she slipped into the shadows with her burden.
There. This should work, I don't think I could cart her in this state to her home--aside from the fact that I have no idea where it is. Kitty sighed softly, At least I've stopped obsessing about Pete. She shook her head, Buffy moaned before she could continue that line of thought.
"It's plunge and move on now, Giles. You should be happy." Buffy muttered as she opened her eyes. They focussed blearily on Kitty, "Mhoouch.. Did you get the number of the flying saucer that hit me?"
Kitty grinned, shaking her head. "We need to get out of sight--as in, under cover? Where's a good place for that?"
"Ommf... My apartment. Why?" Buffy looked at her in confusion.
"I don't want to be out here when more vampires decide to join the party, and you aren't in any shape to deal with them." Kitty said, as Buffy struggled into a sitting position holding her head.
"Ouch. You're be right. My head feels like my brain has been hit with a slice of lemon wrapped around a very large, gold brick." She moved, getting to her feet. Kitty stood with her stabilising her as she wobbled. "We'll have to go slow, c'mon."
They walked out of the doorway in silence, Buffy leaning slightly on Kitty.
* * * *
11:11 p.m., Buffy's apartment, S.F.
They'd made it without a mishap to Buffy's apartment, unfortunately, Buffy was still somewhat groggy and out of sorts. Kitty looked around. "Nice." It was a two room flat, the kitchen was part of the living room and the bedroom led off of that. Between the kitchen and the main room, a couch sat, its back to the kitchen. Catacorner to the couch was an immense overstuffed chair. There was a fairly decent black rug on the floor. And then there were the walls. They were adorned with crosses and other odd things. Herb bundles, strange weavings, and unidentifiable objects.
Buffy dragged her back straighter and gestured towards the bathroom as she walked into the kitchen, "Thanks. I'm feeling better, I'll make some coffee. Go ahead and clean up if you'd like."
Kitty glanced down at the vampire dust coating her arms and legs and nodded, "Peachy. Thanks."
As she came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, Buffy looked at her, "So, you want to tell me just why you were out walking a strange city at night?" She held up a hand. "Even if you *can* take care of yourself, it was a stupid thing to do."
Kitty studied her, then shrugged, What the hell. "Like I said: I'm on vacation. I'm trying to forget something. I thought walking aimlessly might do it." And it had--for all of an hour. Then the thoughts and memories had come crowding back in. That last day-- She stopped that line of thought, irritated at herself again. Ok. So I haven't completely stopped obsessing like some stupid teenager.
She looked at Buffy, "So, are you going to tell me what all this is about?" She gestured at the crosses adorning the walls, and the stake on the table.
Buffy grimaced, "I'd rather not. I invited you here out of necessity. Not to share my secrets."
Kitty nodded, wondering what imp of the perverse had a hold on her, "Yeah, but I know your name and as the goddess of computing, I could now find all sorts of neat and unfactual stuff about you."
Buffy glared, "This is blackmail."
"Ain't it though? Look, being distracted from my own life would be a good thing right now. Okay?" After all, mooning over Pete was below her. Right? Right.
"I thought you were on vacation?"
"Oh, I am. But I can't forget something if I'm not doing anything. Like listening to someone's life story." Kitty stated, flopping into a chair.
"No, it wouldn't." Buffy said softly.
Kitty glanced at her, but the look on Buffy's face kept her mouth closed.
"So, it could be anyone you met off the street whose story you'd want to hear?"
"Nope. Only those who get called 'Slayer' by vampires." Kitty grinned as Buffy looked at her in surprise.
"OK, you know a little too much, now. I'll tell you. Then I'll have to kill you. But let me finish the coffee and get cleaned up first." Buffy said dryly, shaking a stake at Kitty.
"Sure. In fact," She said, standing up, "*I'll* finish the coffee, you go clean up. And only then will we talk about that 'kill' thing."
Buffy nodded, turning to leave the kitchen. "The mugs are in that cupboard and I like my coffee with sugar and cream, please." she tossed over her shoulder.
Laughing, Kitty grinned after her, "Yes, ma'am!"
* * * *
11:35 p.m.
They sat in Buffy's living room. Kitty'd claimed the couch, and she was now sprawled across its length, languidly sipping the mint cream coffee.
Buffy sat curled in the chair. "Ok. I guess I should start." She took a deep breath, "In every generation, there is one girl a 'chosen one' who has the abilities and strength to fight the vampires. She is the Slayer. I'm her."
Kitty blinked, "So, you're Buffy the--"
"Don't say it!" Buffy warned.
Vampire Slayer. Kitty finished silently. "So, you go out and hunt the vampires huh?"
"Yep. Your turn."
"My turn?" She tried to look innocent.
"Yeah," Buffy nodded, eyes narrowing, "Like, that walk through the vampire thing you did?"
"Oh. Um, you saw that, did you?" Oops. Kitty tried to think of a way not to tell Buffy. But she told me her big secret. I guess it won't hurt to let her know I'm a mutant. "Okay. You trusted me with that info. I guess I can trust you with this." Kitty looked at Buffy a little uncertainly.
"I won't tell anyone. I mean, c'mon," Buffy waved a hand, "I've kept the Slayer thing a secret from everyone, including my *mother*!"
"Okay." She took a breath, released it, then took another, "I'm Kitty Pryde, I'm a mutant. I walk through walls and stuff."
"Oh." Buffy paused, looking thoughtful, "Okay. Can't see I'll ever be able to tell anyone this and have them believe me." She wrinkled her nose, "Not that I'd want to."
"Thanks." Kitty drained her mug and sighed, "Look, I'm exhausted, do you mind if I get some sleep? You can walk me to the BART station in the morning."
Buffy nodded, "That's kinda what I was planning."
"Good." Kitty carefully curled up on the couch. Walking into the kitchen, Buffy set her mug on the table, feeling suddenly exhausted. Glancing back at Kitty, it occured to her that she might need a blanket, so she went into her bedroom and got one off the end of the bed.
"Here." She draped it over Kitty.
"Mm.. Thanks." Kitty reached out and pulled it up and around herself.
"You're welcome." Buffy tiredly went back into her room, closing the door. As she settled into her bed, she tried not to think of home. Of her mother. It didn't work.
(actually, I think I've posted part one before, but whatever)
In honor of
prozacpark's birthday and in spirit-filled delusion....Part one of the crossover 'The Slayer, the Cat and Some Wisdom' (which is still sometimes an excellent title). The one where season two of Buffy had just ended and Excalibur #20 had just happened, and I had discovered crossovers and fanfic. I was also a Kitty Pryde/Pete Wisdom and Buffy/Angel shipper.
All errors, painfully ooc behavior and bad writing are my own.
The Slayer, the Cat, and Some Wisdom
Chapter One: Out All Night With No One To Hit
July 28th, 8:30 p.m. San Francisco, CA.
Kitty Pryde wandered the streets of San Francisco. She thought she might be lost. The sun was setting in a blaze of glory off to her left, and she didn't care. Her mind was teaming with thought, So I take a vacation. The first one I've had since I joined the X-Men at age 13. And what happens? I get a call from bloody Alistair Stuart, asking me to look for someone. And instead of being able to leave this town, I now have to spend who knows how many days trying to find someone who might not even be here.
She kicked a bottle out of her way, and looked around in mild surprise. Definitely not the best part of town, she observed, noting the rundown buildings, garbage littering the street and decayed atmosphere. She glanced up, the sun had set, golden-red streaks lighting the bluey-purple velvet of the sky, while underneath little stars twinkled.
The stars slowly got brighter as she continued on. In the distance, the moon began to rise. Alistair was going to pay--or, rather, the British government would. She half-smiled at that. She, Kitty Pryde, agent for the British Crown. It had a scary ring to it.
Unbidden came the thought that Pete would have been amused, and she growled. There was to be no thinking about *that* particular--man, not gentleman--thank you very much. Trash littered the sidewalks, bits of old newspapers, straw papers, even a few ancient french fries dancing along under the control of the intermittant breezes. She ignored it all, mind focussed on thinking absolutely nothing about Pete while trying to watch for a young woman.
Time passed, creeping along like the shadows of the snail Kitty stepped over at one point. Moonlight from the full moon poured down on her, then was obscured by the clouds rolling slowly over the moon. The wind had picked up as she wandered, swirling around her legs, battering tiny bits of paper intermittantly. The moonlight felt wonderful. A sudden sound to her right made her pause.
Silently, they streamed from the shadows, surrounding her, teeth gleamed brilliantly as they all smiled ferally. Reacting automatically, her mind noted there were four and then she was turning, lashing out to hit one in the jaw. They seemed startled for an instant, and then another swung at her. She ducked, and came up fighting. The moon slipped behind the clouds.
Feeling something akin to joy in the workout, she whirled and ducked. Lashed out with precision, then laughed softly. A roundhouse kick should have decapitated one, an elbow slammed into her back, and she dropped, rolling out of the way of his pounce. Coming to her feet, she smirked as they realised she'd escaped their ring. Dimly, she was aware that something was odd about her attackers--they seemed to take her punches and kicks without any discernable pain. But she didn't care. They'd picked a fight with an innocent young woman. Just because she wasn't quite so innocent meant nothing--they still deserved to have their asses handed to them on a platter.
She spun, kicking out and re-arranging the face of one. Another grabbed her arm, she let her momentum carry her body into his, slamming a knee into his groin. He went down, yelping. Another was grappling with her as the moon came out from behind the clouds and she saw the faces of her attackers for the first time. Vampires. It figured, really.
Her head jerked back as her attacker latched onto it. A growl escaped her throat, low and angry, she shifted, grabbed the vampire's arm, dropped her knees, lifted and he was up and over. He slammed into the pavement in front of her, a sound indicating that his neck had cracked. All tension left the arm around her throat.
She straightened slightly, feeling exhilerated. So far, she hadn't had to use her mutant power once. It was liberating, in a way. The next one, a female, started to come at her. Kitty snapped her head back as something flashed across her vision, slamming into the chest of the vampire. She snarled and disappeared in a puff of dust.
Kitty slowly turned to face the young woman who stood there, another stake in her hand, poised for the next vampire. "They're vampires. Use this, get 'em in the heart." She tossed a stake at Kitty, and turned to fight the one attempting to jump her. Kitty shrugged and then whirled, stake in hand and took out the vampire behind her in mid-grab. He dissolved into dust as the fourth one jumped up, bleated in terror and took off into the night.
"Shall we chase him d'you think?" Kitty asked conversationally, dusting herself off, as the vampire skidded round the corner and disappeared from sight. She eyed the other woman, considering. This had to be the Slayer. She decided absently. Adrenaline was bubbling through her, making her want to fidget.
The other girl didn't answer as she kicked her opponent in the chest, following through by slamming her stake into its heart. "WE?" She dusted her hands off, "This is my job. I suggest you go back to your home, and stay out of this. It's rather dangerous."
A bitter chuckle escaped Kitty and she shrugged, "I'm on vacation."
"Hotel then?"
Kitty studied her for a moment. In the moonlight her shoulder length blonde hair was nearly silver. She was thin, but lithe, like a fighter. Black shorts, tshirt and boots made her seem younger than she was. And her eyes. With her youth, they should have been light, silver. Instead they were shadowed by pain, sadness, grief, and something else, something Kitty thought she recognised. It made them dark. She looked very young, but Kitty'd seen her in action. She was good, very good. Besides, as Kitty well knew, age was NOT a judge for experience. And Alistair *had* asked.... And paid.
"Maybe. Look, I'd like an explanation of this." She grinned, "I don't suppose I could keep this?" She held up the stake.
The other was shaking her head, "I'm sorry, but the less you know, the safer you'll be. C'mon, I'll walk you to wherever you're going," she waved her hand, "keep the stake."
"Can we at least exchange names? I mean, I keep thinking of you as 'the girl'."
"I'd rather not." she said shaking her head.
"I'll be very tenacious 'till you tell me your name." Kitty said, "I'll dog your footsteps, follow you everywhere--."
"Oooo. K." She looked as if she wondered a bit about Kitty's sanity. "I'm Buffy."
"What, no last name?"
She sighed, "Summers. Buffy Summers."
Summers? Kitty's mind immediately came up with several jokes and discarded them all. Especially the one about cloned mothers and bratty sisters. Best to be nice. "Summers? Your dad wouldn't be named Scott, would he?"
Buffy looked at her, "Uhm. No. My dad's name is Hank."
"Ok. I'm Kitty Pryde." Kitty held out her hand. Scott was a better name. They shook.
"So tell me Buffy, vampire slaying's a normal thing for kids these days? Y'know, see a movie, hit the Dennys, then go slay a few vampires?"
"Oh no. I just do this occasionally, when the mood strikes me." Buffy replied dryly, an amused twist to her lips
Kitty laughed, she didn't know why--it hadn't even been that funny. But it felt good. Alistair would probably have mocked her.
-- Buffy smiled unexpectedly as Kitty laughed. The laughter was almost infectious, yet had an odd edge to it. "Where am I taking you?"
"Downtown?" Kitty replied, her tone almost one of suggestion.
"Downtown!? Wait. You do know that you are, like, 6 miles out of downtown. How long did you say you'd been walking?" Incredulously, she stared at the other girl. Buffy felt irritated at this unreasonable demand. Here she'd been happily wallowing in her own misery, resolutely avoiding her 'destiny' as the Slayer; and this nobody walked into the hands of vampires and she had to save her. It was enough to make her sit down and throw a fit. If, that was, she did that sort of thing. Which she hadn't. Not since she was about four. She stopped thinking about that and took a good look at Kitty. She didn't look much older than she herself was, they were of a height, though Kitty was slightly taller. She was wearing jeans and a dark tshirt that had 'Cat's Laughing' printed on it in silver. Brown hair brushed her shoulders, graying in the moonlight. Dark eyes, maybe brown, mirrored emotions Buffy herself felt--sadness, and pain. Her voice held a slight accent, unrecognisable, but there. She glanced down at her watch, Hrmm... This late at night BART'll still be running, I can take her to a station, drop her off there. Buffy had been living in San Francisco for three months. She'd been riding BART, the local public transport, for nearly that long.
Kitty shrugged. "I just sort of started walking," She checked her watch, "Er, several hours ago?"
Deciding, she opened her mouth to offer the BART idea. Something twinged against her spine, shivers skittering up it for a second, and she turned, looking for something to jump out of the shadows at them. It didn't. She sighed again, "Fine. Look, I'll walk you to the BART station, you can take it downtown and get off near the hotels. Why the hell were you out walking this late, anyway?"
Kitty looked at her for a moment. "You're not my mother. Besides, I can take care of myself."
She's right. She *was* holding her own there. Buffy thought, almost ruefully. "Sorry. I keep forgetting that there are a few who *can* take care of themselves against vampires. It's not like everyone faces demons daily."
"Right. Look, walk me to the station, and I'll let it go." Kitty nodded to Buffy, "Shall we?"
Buffy started to nod, when--"What the hell?" The feeling flashed up her spine again. She turned to the end of the street, senses straining. Somewhere, she'd heard--there it was again. "Damn. That vampire that got away? It's up there attacking someone." She looked at Kitty and sighed. "Duty calls." Buffy took off running, glancing back she noted Kitty matching her step for step.
"I heard the screams, too." Kitty snapped, "And I *am* the one who let him go."
Buffy didn't argue, just nodded.
They rounded the corner in step and the screaming abruptly cut off. "There!" They spotted them at the same time.
"Bloody hell!" The accent Buffy had noticed earlier was a little more pronounced. Three vampires surounded the body of a girl--she couldn't have been more than ten. Her eyes stared sightlessly at the stars that shone above.
"I'll take the bastard on the left." Kitty muttered.
"I get the rest, then?" Buffy guessed as Kitty was already moving, going after the vampire she'd indicated. It was their playmate from earlier. Buffy watched as Kitty used her own momentum to slide up to and *through* the vampire. She left the stake behind in his chest. Neat. Gotta ask her how she does that. He disappeared in a puff of dust.
"Slayer." One of the remaining vampires hissed.
She pulled the stake out again. "Slayee."
"You have been expected," she hissed.
"Really? But I didn't RSVP!" Buffy laughed, "I guess you dust piles are mind-readers now, huh?"
The vampire growled and lunged at her as Kitty engaged her companion. Buffy dodged, kicking out at her left leg. It crumpled and the vampire went down howling in pain. "So sorry." Buffy dropped down on top of her, the stake finding her heart.
"Melea! You killed Melea, you bitch!" The 'dead' girl jumped up and threw herself on Buffy. She rolled to the left barely avoiding her, the wind of her passing touched her. Power surged along her bones, old power, power that sucked the marrow out of life. Buffy shook her head, dispelling the feeling, and hopped to her feet.
She shivered waiting for the vampire girl to charge again. What the hell was that? The vampire was turning, she spotted Buffy and charged her again. Buffy met her halfway, sliding in and punching her. Again power surged along her bones, almost knocking her to the ground. I've never felt anything like this, she thought as she fought against it. She slammed her hand on the vampire-girl's chest, grabbing the ruffles of the fluffy Victorian shirt, desperately holding herself up. Her legs buckled and she began falling... stake. Need a stake. Time was moving slowly as she followed her left hand with her right and the stake. It plunged into the vampire's chest as Buffy's bones sang.
"Auuuuughiiiiieeeeee!" The vampire's head went back as she shrilled to the heavens and shattered into a pile of dust.
Time returned to normal and Buffy felt her knees finish disappearing as energy poured over her bones. It's cold, so cold-- Everything went grey and then to black.
With a final kick and flourish, Kitty staked her opponent and turned to check on Buffy. "What the--" she jumped towards her as she fell.
Kitty stared down at the unconscious girl. Good grief. I turn from zapping that vampire and she's fainting on me. Hmm. She glanced around, Where'd that body go? Oh, wait. She replayed the scene on her peripheral vision. They were...lying in wait for us? She frowned, Well, Buffy, actually, they knew her. One of them called her something, too. Slither? Sleer? No. Slayer. She called Buffy 'Slayer'. What the heck is a Slayer? Guess I'll find out when she wakes up. She glanced around. Damn, we're too exposed here. She looked around trying to find a place to hide. I don't think hiding in plain sight will work on a deserted street.
Quickly, she half-dragged, half-carried Buffy back around the corner, and towards the dark alcove across the street. It was a door recess, almost a porch. Grunting softly, she slipped into the shadows with her burden.
There. This should work, I don't think I could cart her in this state to her home--aside from the fact that I have no idea where it is. Kitty sighed softly, At least I've stopped obsessing about Pete. She shook her head, Buffy moaned before she could continue that line of thought.
"It's plunge and move on now, Giles. You should be happy." Buffy muttered as she opened her eyes. They focussed blearily on Kitty, "Mhoouch.. Did you get the number of the flying saucer that hit me?"
Kitty grinned, shaking her head. "We need to get out of sight--as in, under cover? Where's a good place for that?"
"Ommf... My apartment. Why?" Buffy looked at her in confusion.
"I don't want to be out here when more vampires decide to join the party, and you aren't in any shape to deal with them." Kitty said, as Buffy struggled into a sitting position holding her head.
"Ouch. You're be right. My head feels like my brain has been hit with a slice of lemon wrapped around a very large, gold brick." She moved, getting to her feet. Kitty stood with her stabilising her as she wobbled. "We'll have to go slow, c'mon."
They walked out of the doorway in silence, Buffy leaning slightly on Kitty.
* * * *
11:11 p.m., Buffy's apartment, S.F.
They'd made it without a mishap to Buffy's apartment, unfortunately, Buffy was still somewhat groggy and out of sorts. Kitty looked around. "Nice." It was a two room flat, the kitchen was part of the living room and the bedroom led off of that. Between the kitchen and the main room, a couch sat, its back to the kitchen. Catacorner to the couch was an immense overstuffed chair. There was a fairly decent black rug on the floor. And then there were the walls. They were adorned with crosses and other odd things. Herb bundles, strange weavings, and unidentifiable objects.
Buffy dragged her back straighter and gestured towards the bathroom as she walked into the kitchen, "Thanks. I'm feeling better, I'll make some coffee. Go ahead and clean up if you'd like."
Kitty glanced down at the vampire dust coating her arms and legs and nodded, "Peachy. Thanks."
As she came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, Buffy looked at her, "So, you want to tell me just why you were out walking a strange city at night?" She held up a hand. "Even if you *can* take care of yourself, it was a stupid thing to do."
Kitty studied her, then shrugged, What the hell. "Like I said: I'm on vacation. I'm trying to forget something. I thought walking aimlessly might do it." And it had--for all of an hour. Then the thoughts and memories had come crowding back in. That last day-- She stopped that line of thought, irritated at herself again. Ok. So I haven't completely stopped obsessing like some stupid teenager.
She looked at Buffy, "So, are you going to tell me what all this is about?" She gestured at the crosses adorning the walls, and the stake on the table.
Buffy grimaced, "I'd rather not. I invited you here out of necessity. Not to share my secrets."
Kitty nodded, wondering what imp of the perverse had a hold on her, "Yeah, but I know your name and as the goddess of computing, I could now find all sorts of neat and unfactual stuff about you."
Buffy glared, "This is blackmail."
"Ain't it though? Look, being distracted from my own life would be a good thing right now. Okay?" After all, mooning over Pete was below her. Right? Right.
"I thought you were on vacation?"
"Oh, I am. But I can't forget something if I'm not doing anything. Like listening to someone's life story." Kitty stated, flopping into a chair.
"No, it wouldn't." Buffy said softly.
Kitty glanced at her, but the look on Buffy's face kept her mouth closed.
"So, it could be anyone you met off the street whose story you'd want to hear?"
"Nope. Only those who get called 'Slayer' by vampires." Kitty grinned as Buffy looked at her in surprise.
"OK, you know a little too much, now. I'll tell you. Then I'll have to kill you. But let me finish the coffee and get cleaned up first." Buffy said dryly, shaking a stake at Kitty.
"Sure. In fact," She said, standing up, "*I'll* finish the coffee, you go clean up. And only then will we talk about that 'kill' thing."
Buffy nodded, turning to leave the kitchen. "The mugs are in that cupboard and I like my coffee with sugar and cream, please." she tossed over her shoulder.
Laughing, Kitty grinned after her, "Yes, ma'am!"
* * * *
11:35 p.m.
They sat in Buffy's living room. Kitty'd claimed the couch, and she was now sprawled across its length, languidly sipping the mint cream coffee.
Buffy sat curled in the chair. "Ok. I guess I should start." She took a deep breath, "In every generation, there is one girl a 'chosen one' who has the abilities and strength to fight the vampires. She is the Slayer. I'm her."
Kitty blinked, "So, you're Buffy the--"
"Don't say it!" Buffy warned.
Vampire Slayer. Kitty finished silently. "So, you go out and hunt the vampires huh?"
"Yep. Your turn."
"My turn?" She tried to look innocent.
"Yeah," Buffy nodded, eyes narrowing, "Like, that walk through the vampire thing you did?"
"Oh. Um, you saw that, did you?" Oops. Kitty tried to think of a way not to tell Buffy. But she told me her big secret. I guess it won't hurt to let her know I'm a mutant. "Okay. You trusted me with that info. I guess I can trust you with this." Kitty looked at Buffy a little uncertainly.
"I won't tell anyone. I mean, c'mon," Buffy waved a hand, "I've kept the Slayer thing a secret from everyone, including my *mother*!"
"Okay." She took a breath, released it, then took another, "I'm Kitty Pryde, I'm a mutant. I walk through walls and stuff."
"Oh." Buffy paused, looking thoughtful, "Okay. Can't see I'll ever be able to tell anyone this and have them believe me." She wrinkled her nose, "Not that I'd want to."
"Thanks." Kitty drained her mug and sighed, "Look, I'm exhausted, do you mind if I get some sleep? You can walk me to the BART station in the morning."
Buffy nodded, "That's kinda what I was planning."
"Good." Kitty carefully curled up on the couch. Walking into the kitchen, Buffy set her mug on the table, feeling suddenly exhausted. Glancing back at Kitty, it occured to her that she might need a blanket, so she went into her bedroom and got one off the end of the bed.
"Here." She draped it over Kitty.
"Mm.. Thanks." Kitty reached out and pulled it up and around herself.
"You're welcome." Buffy tiredly went back into her room, closing the door. As she settled into her bed, she tried not to think of home. Of her mother. It didn't work.
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